Richard Howe

British Admiral
1726-1799

One of Britain's most experienced leaders, Richard Howe joined the Royal Navy at the age of 13 and fought in the Pacific, during the war of Austrian Succession, the Jacobite Rebellion, the Seven Years War and the American Revolution.

He became a Lord of the Admiralty, but resigned following political disagreements, was Treasurer of the Navy for a period and returned to active service to lead the Channel Fleet in 1782.

In that role he set about relieving the two-year siege of the vital fortress of Gibraltar and when the hostilities ended he rose to First Lord of the Admiralty.

Howe, whose dark complexion earned him the nickname Black Dick, is credited with perfecting the Royal Navy's signal system.

In 1794 he won the battle of the Glorious First of June.

When he retired in 1797 he had risen to Admiral of the Fleet.

Howe's last major contribution to British naval history came that same year when he was a key element in solving the potentially disastrous mutinies at Spithead and The Nore.

His brother was William, Viscount Howe, who commanded the British army during the War of American Independence.